Thioester Trans fatty acid

Fig. 8. P-Oxidation of fatty acids in E. coli. Long-chain fatty acids are transported into the cell by FadL and converted to their CoA thioesters by FadD (not shown). The acyl-CoAs are substrates for the (1) acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (YafH) to form a trans-2-enoyl-CoA. The double bond is reduced by (2) rrans-2-enoyl-hydratase (crotonase) activity of FadB. The P-hydroxyacyl-CoA is then a substrate for the NADP -dependent dehydrogenase activity of FadB (3). A thiolase, FadA (4), releases acetyl-CoA from the P-ketoacyl-CoA to form an acyl-CoA for subsequent cycles. (5) Polyunsaturated fatty acyl-CoAs are reduced by the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase (FadH). (6) FadB also catalyzes the isomerization of c/s-unsaturated fatty acids to trans. (7) The epimerase activity of FadB converts O-P-hydroxy thioesters to their L-enantiomers via the /rans-2-enoyl-CoA.

In step 7 of fatty-acid biosynthesis (Figure 29.5), dehydration of a /3-hydioxy thioester occurs to give trans-ciotonyl ACP. Is the dehydration a syn elimination or an anti elimination ... 

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